In Kwale County, Kenya, stakeholders from county and national government, civil society, and the private sector will gather on November 7 to discuss financing for local climate action and multi-level governance of climate change. The event, titled Sustainably thriving: investing in climate resilient communities in Kwale County, is the first of two workshops marking the conclusion of the V-LED project in Kenya.

During the past four years, V-LED has stimulated horizontal exchanges for climate action at the sub-national level, facilitated coherent actions between different governing levels and supported relevant capacity building activities. In particular, the project has conducted vertical dialogues and horizontal exchanges for an effective response to climate change. Along the way, V-LED researchers collected and analysed data to assess the current stage of multi-level climate governance and offer insights and entry points.

One finding of the V-LED project is the very real need for climate and low-emission development financing at the local level. A barrier is the lack of finance-ready bankable projects. In response, V-LED partnered with the Kwale County Natural Resource Network to train members and provide coaching for the creation of project proposals. At the November 7 workshop, three projects from network members will present bankable projects to representatives from the donor community, including foundations, NGOs, international organisations, and the private sector.

Two key publications will also be launched at the event. A Local Climate Action Toolkit will provide citizen groups in Kwale County and elsewhere with user-friendly explanations of climate change processes and how-to information on developing mitigation and adaption project plans and proposals. To clarify institutional relations, governing responsibilities and environmental rights in Kenya, V-LED will also launch Devolving Climate Change Governance in Kwale County. Kenya is currently implementing an ambitious plan to devolve significant governing authority from the national to the county level. This guide provides useful information for county governing officials as well as active citizens and environmental advocates.

On November 8, V-LED will host a second workshop focussing on lessons learned and entry points and will launch the Kenya Multi-level Climate Governance Country Study.

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As a final event in Kenya, V-LED is convening stakeholders from local communities and civil society, county and national governing officials and the private sector to discuss multi-level climate governance and ways forward. This day-long ‘Lessons Learned’ event on Nov 8 in Kwale County, will reflect on four years of project operations and prompt participants to identify good practices and objectives to continue pursuing.